Meet Geoff Mitchell | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Geoff Mitchell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Geoff, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always felt a strong desire for self-expression and individuality throughout my life. Whether it was through art, photography, or music, I yearned for the ability to create something out of nothing; something unique that others might connect with as well. That drive is what pushed me to pursue photography as a career. I’ll be honest though, turning a passion into a profession seemed implausible and unattainable for a very long time. Diving headfirst into a career filled with uncertainty is a scary thought, especially for someone who longs for stability and hates surprises! Luckily, I have an amazing support system and am surrounded by artistic, inspiring people that have really pushed me to create and do something I truly believe in.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always thought that art and music go hand-in-hand; you can’t have one without the other. Music is such a huge part of my life and I think that being so engulfed in metal has clearly overflown into my photography. I love dark, moody, and warm tones, things you don’t see terribly often. There’s a rawness to them that can evoke all sorts of emotions, and I don’t believe that can be found in many forms of art. I’ve been around cameras all my life, with the earliest memory being my father’s Minolta 35mm film camera. Even as a kid, it fascinated me and made me wonder how it worked. I learned the ins and outs of that camera and then it resulted in me essentially taking up residence in my school’s dark room. I love shooting nature and landscapes primarily, as I feel most myself while in the forest. There’s no pressure there, and it’s easy to relax and enjoy the moment.

It was very important to me to develop a distinctive style, one that sticks with the viewer, leaves an impression, and makes them say, “I know exactly who shot that.” Being true to myself and my vision is very important to me. Regardless of my subject, I want to give each photo a unique look, an uncommon perspective, and a darker atmosphere. These days it’s very difficult to stand out and pave your own path, but I give my entire self to my work and hope that sincerity shows in my photography.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m an extremely introverted person, so I’d probably recommend things away from big crowds or noise. Oakland Cemetery is one of my favorite places to visit in the city, it’s a beautiful location with rich history that makes for some great photography. Besides that, the city is filled with great record stores like Criminal Records, vegan restaurants like Soul Veg or Slutty Vegan, music venues like the Masquerade or the Drunken Unicorn, and tattoo studios like Only You Tattoo. The majority of my youth was spent attending shows in and around the city, but nowadays I prefer to spend my time hiking and exploring the north Georgia mountains, around an hour and a half north of the city. Athens is also a reasonable drive from downtown, and offers a cozy downtown area with a killer metal record store called Shadebeast and a world class tattoo studio called Walk the Line. It all depends on what you’re into though! The city and its surrounding areas have a lot to offer.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I think about how I got to this point, two people immediately come to mind as being instrumental for me on this journey. It’s very safe to say that I wouldn’t have even considered turning my hobby into a profession if it weren’t for my wife Becca. She is the ultimate cheerleader and has always believed in everything I’ve wanted to do. She is a graphic designer, as well as an incredible artist and painter. Her creativity really seems endless. Being married to someone so inspiring has been a blessing. The other person who I feel is monumental in moving forward with my career is my dear friend David Bridges. David and I grew up in the hardcore and metal scene, a melting pot for creativity and expression. We both shared similar visions musically, and he ended up joining my old band and spending a couple years touring the country and writing music. Over the years, he has grown into a budding real estate agent and is someone I can count on for advice, especially from a business perspective. He was one of the first people to help me envision my goals and say, “Hey, you got this!”

Website: geoffmitchellphoto.squarespace.com

Instagram: @xgeoffx & @geoffmitchellphoto